Duke of Night: A Historical Regency Romance

by Emmi West

Lady Helen sees only one way to avoid the dreaded marriage her father has arranged for She must ruin her reputation so completely that no man of honour will ever consider her as a wife.

A single kiss from a man with a scandalous reputation in public, and she would be free.

No one fits the bill better than him – the Duke of Night.

Everything he touches is tainted.
Anyone who crosses his path is lost.
A moment in his presence is enough to destroy even the most pristine of reputations.

Now, the Duke of Night is her only hope.


Exciting, seductive, and utterly captivating. USA Today bestselling author Jenny Foster as Emmi West brings you a Regency romance centred on an extraordinary and unforgettable love. A wallflower and the Duke of Night – can such a pairing possibly work? A standalone novel with a guaranteed happy ending.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen is the twenty-five year old daughter of the Earl of Pembroke who is a man immersed in antiquities and is planning an expedition to uncover what he believes to be the city Troy. Although he had promised her that she could marry for love, he is now insisting that she marry Rufus Raidenberry, Viscount of Marchmont, and the son of his old friend from Oxford. Helen and Rufus have been friends since they were children, and although he claims to love her, Helen thinks of him as a brother. Besides, she has no desire to have a husband who will clip her wings and tell her what to do. Begging, crying and reasoning have not convinced her father to change his mind and the engagement is to be announced in seven days at a ball being held by Rufus’ parents. She decides that her only way out is to have her reputation ruined and be seen as unfit to marry. She takes her diary to her favorite spot in the garden and unleashes her thoughts and emotions on paper. When her neighbor sees her stumble and catches her before she falls, a very flustered Helen runs from him, leaving her diary behind, He takes it to read later. Rawden Seymour, the Duke of Lancaster, is Helen’s next door neighbor and their gardens share a connecting gate. They have a significant history with each other. Eight years ago they were to elope, but he did not show up, and she had not seen him again until just recently. Rawden had waited for her that night, but she stood him up, and then his father shipped him off to the country separating them. Both had been devastated and hardened their hearts. Now Rawden offered to help ruin her in exchange for her assistance with his sister Julia. He planned six nights of challenges that would help her come into her own. The outing two days before the engagement went awry and Julia cut ties with Rawden. Both were emotional wrecks and on the night of the ball everything imploded. This story vibrates with emotion and an undercurrent of hurt and distrust. Hints about that fateful night eight years ago are sprinkled throughout, but when what actually happened was finally revealed, it was hard not to be angry and sad on so many levels. Pride and circumstances kept them apart for eight years, but their love for each other could not be denied. This is a well written story with clever challenges, unexpected twists, steamy encounters and diverse characters….and when everything escalates, you might be surprised as to who becomes the villain and who plays the hero.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the first time I am reading a book by this author and I quite enjoyed the story. It is a historical romance with childhood love, broken trust/past misunderstanding, second chance at love, enemies to lovers themes. It has a nice level of drama and angst, including family strife/misunderstanding, and steamy romance that I found appealing.

Lady Helen had her heart broken years before when the man she loved and trusted failed to meet his promise to her. Now on the shelf at 25, she has resolved herself to becoming a spinster. Except her father has arranged a match with her that she finds unacceptable. When she is unable to come to an agreement with her parents, or her soon-to-be betrothed, she comes up with plan to ruin herself publicly to make herself an unacceptable bride.

Rawden Seymour, the Duke of Lancaster, has loved Lady Helen since they were children, as their London estates lay side by side. His heart turned to icy stone when she spurned him years before, and he has tried to erase her from his heart and mind since with his exploits, earning him a blackened reputation and the moniker of Duke of Night. But when he discovers her plans to organize her own ruin, he makes her an offer to use him as her tool to ruin, in a bargain where he hopes to use her to gain insight into some of his own family worries, an hoping to rid himself of his memories and desire for her once and for all.

Unresolved past misunderstanding and heartbreak, family angst, secret meetings, secret sexy meetings and unresolved lust - this helped to take some of the edge off the recent polar vortex we were suffering here in Canada! I enjoyed the secondary relationship that was occurring as well that added a bit of extra friction between Rawden and Helen, and the resolution of their years long misunderstanding. Their relationships started out very sweet, and it took them years to find their HEA.

A bit of a frequent detraction at times though was that the prose and dialogue was too contemporary frequently for a Regency romance, using terminology, such as one character having a "crush" on someone, referring to something as "cheesy".

4 stars out of 5

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much too young older and wiser
We have Lady Helen de Montbray who definitely acts like she is the Helena in Greek tragedies at times! Her father wants her to marry so he can go on a long overdue excavation to Troy!
Helen is somewhat of a wallflower and has dressed as awful as possible to detract suitors! Her son will have the title passed to him since she is her father’s only child!
This is to thwart a cousin and he wife who have less than honorable intentions!
Helen and Rawden have history but it takes several chapters to figure what failed! This to me was way too long!
It is still longer to find the proper villain! It is very uncomfortable when one person is in love and the other isn’t! Except it is obsession that has gone on far longer than Helen is aware of!
Rufus the future Earl of Glencoe has persuaded her father he loves Helen and will make No demands on her even alluding to freedom for her while he pursues his usual actresses!? Hmm not a marriage made in Heaven!
Helen wants to feel something for him but she has started this date with Rawden to get herself ruined so she will be a social Pariah and have to marry no one.
Rawden title as Duke of the night seems in contrast to a scene with his mistress? It also hints at his other occupations which are not revealed until near the end!
This story was longer than it should be Helen and Rawden talked at each other and always came close but never really having it out!
But there is a scandal neither saw coming and it actually results in a HEA for them and Rawden sister Julia! I get the sense from both relationships that if you can’t be with the one you love…love the ones you are with!? Hmm all and all I would definitely read more on this series!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marion Löw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deliberate Ruination - 4,5 stars

I already read Helen and Rawden's story in German a few years ago and was delighted to have the opportunity to read it again in English. It's a charming second chance romance with lovable protagonists who broke up years ago due to intrigue and misunderstandings. The plot is well written with a few unexpected twists and turns, a touch of intrigue and suspense, sensual tension and a few steamy love scenes. I particularly enjoyed the tasks Rawden set, which not only led to Helen's scandal, but also freed her from expectations and limitations.

Years ago, Lady Helen and Rawden Seymour were lovers and wanted to elope together, but he failed to turn up and broke her heart. Since then, Helen has supported her father in his archaeological work, but when he prepares for an expedition that he doesn't want to take her on, but instead wants to force her to marry her childhood friend Rufus, Helen is devastated. Neither man is prepared to take her rejection seriously, so Helen devises a plan to compromise herself in public. She would rather be disgraced than give up her freedom and be trapped in an unhappy marriage.
Helen receives unexpected support from Rawden, now the Duke of Lancaster, but better known as the scandal-ridden Duke of Night. Rawden is prepared to kiss her in public and ruin her reputation in return for Helen fulfilling the tasks on his sensual list in advance and helping his sister choose a husband...

If you like historical romance novels with determined heroines, scandalous rakes and a little spice, you will enjoy this book!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful Regency Romance with Lady Helen and Lord Rawden that fall in love and secretly plan to marry so when life creates havoc for Rawden, Helen believes she’s been rejected changing their lives. Rawden becomes the Duke of Night where society believes he’s a darkness where nothing good comes being involved with him and Helen becomes a loner never wanting to marry, helping her father with his research for the hidden city of Troy. When Helen is told her father arranged a marriage to her childhood friend she’s beside herself and plots to ruin herself with a single kiss in a week. When Rawden uncovers Helen’s plan he uses to his advantage making a deal with Helen that involves his younger sister Julia. Rawden battles with himself with each task he sets every night for Helen and she opens herself to experiences she never thought possible. With her engagement around the corner Helen and Rawden fight their attraction so when things get more complicated with her soon to be things implode and Rawden learns what really happened all 5hose years ago. When Helen becomes distraught over the last week’s nightly activities as they are revealed publicly she is ruined all on her own. The unforgettable love between Helen and Rawden are given a chance if their stubbornness doesn’t interfere. Where we find Helen at the end of this story shows you what true love can be! I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Emmi and wow, it will not be the last. This story grabbed me from the first few pages. Even then you knew there was a lot more going on between Helen and Rawden. They were childhood friends then more till both had their hearts broken by the other. What? Helen and Rawden planned on eloping to Gretna Green but neither showed up that night and they stopped talking and seeing the other. Seven years later Helen is supposed to marry a man, Rufus of her father's choice. Helen never wants to marry and only thinks of him as a friend. Rawden is now known as the “Duke of Night”, a libertine and rake of the worst order. Yet, he offers to help her stop her engagement. With no other choice begins a series of events neither Helen or Rawden could have seen how they would end. Wow, what action packed, steamy read. Wonderful characters, even the villains were just as nasty as you thought they should be! There is so much our couple doesn’t know and tons of misunderstanding and secrets too. I did feel her father was blind to the world and her most of all. I loved the witty banter between these too. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. The epilogue is wonderful too. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lady and Her Duke . . .

Lady Helen’s father has his own plans for the future and uses his daughter to make them happen. He wants to search for the lost city of Troy, so it becomes expedient to get Helen married off and free him to go on his search having done his “duty”. He also wanted her married to someone of his choosing, Rufus Raidenberry, so an undesirable cousin didn’t ruin his plans by trying to inherit the title. Helen herself preferred to travel with her father on his Troy expedition rather than marry the man he chose for her. The best way to stop his plans for getting her married would be to ruin her own reputation so that no honorable man would want to marry her. Since her neighbor Rawdon Seymour, Duke of Lancaster -- referred to as the Duke of Night -- already has an unsavory reputation, he might be the perfect choice. A public kiss should do the job nicely! But would reconnecting with him -- learning things are not always as they seem and baseless assumptions are not the best means of communication -- end up revealing actual feelings neither has acknowledged?

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I did enjoy this book, although it was a little wordy at times, especially in the first part. When more characters became involved, it became much more engaging. Helen was determined to refuse to marry her long time friend, Rufus, instead she wanted to travel with her father on his archeological expedition. Helen began devising a plan to ruin herself. Her next door neighbour is Rawdon, Duke of Lancaster. He has a dark reputation. They had known each other in the past but something happened and they hadn’t seen each other for many years. They both need each other’s help but what will happen when they spend time with each other. There are a number of interesting secondary characters and a little passion. I did like the extended epilogue as to what happened to them in the future. I received a copy via Booksprout and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rawden and Helen have eight years of stored up hurt, anger, and misunderstanding. That’s how long it’s been since their plan to elope fell apart. Now her father insists that she marry her childhood friend. She doesn’t want Rufus for a husband, she wants him as a friend. She has a plan, and Rawden is the perfect accomplice. At the same time, she can help his sister find a suitable husband. I enjoyed this second chance story. It is emotional, witty, and a bit unpredictable. The characters fit their roles perfectly, independent minded heroine, moody hero, and self-centered villain. The plan may not have worked exactly as they wished it to, but by the end of the story, Helen and Rawden found what they had been missing, happily ever after, with each other. An interesting story with a delightful ending.
I received an ARC of this book via BookSprout and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Carmel Zumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were neighbours and had been in love eight years before. Now they were strangers with Lady Helen facing a dreaded marriage that her father has arranged for her. What could she do to avoid a loveless marriage? Her only salvation would be to ruin her reputation completely so that no man in good society would ever take her as a wife.
 The Duke of Night, Rawden her former love could be the one to help her succeed. A public kiss with him could make her his latest scandal then she would be free. He is her only hope but will the unspoken past rise up to thwart them both.This is a delicious read with strong passionate main characters engaging in an enticing romp to their HEA!

[Nancy Yohe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative storyline.

Duke Rawden and lady Helen his neighbor planned to elope 8 years ago. But, when the time came to meet up only one of them showed up. Eight long years later and no contact between the two their feelings are still strong. But their pride and anger keep them apart. Now Helen is being pressed to marry her friend Rufus against her will. The only way she believes she can avoid it is to ruin herself by kissing another man in public. Rawden agrees to help her under his conditions, which are quite creative. I enjoyed how this story unfolded and there was a surprise or two along the way.

[Tiffany P · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a second chance romance. Helen and the Duke of Night were clearly connected. The witty banter was entertaining, but it also showed how much they cared for one another. All the other men in Helen’s life were dismissive and borderline rude, and I didn’t like that her character excused the behavior so much. It didn’t go with the strong defiant character that she was with the Duke. This was a steamy novella without explicit sex scenes and a HEA. The steam was in the angst and anticipation.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Helen is being made to marry. He father has chosen a bridegroom and will not let Helen change his mind since it is the only way to keep the title from going to a cousin.
Lady Helen will bring herself to ruin before being forced to marry for any reason but love. Even if she has to deal with the duke that once broke her heart.

Interesting storyline.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're like me & enjoy historical romance, this book is for you!

I loved that both Helen & Rawden couldn’t get their thoughts away from the past to realize the truth! It took many interesting & entertaining events to bring them together!

The ebb & flow between the characters, along with secrets along the way made for a fantastic read!

I received a free copy & voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing hits like a second chance at a romance lost or thought lost. The Duke and Helen had history and love story that had to take a journey to arrive at the happily ever after. I enjoyed their love journey and the opportunity that was almost lost again due to misunderstandings and faulty communication. This was a fun story to read with interesting characters and a sometimes angsty storyline. I'm definitely going to check out other stories in this series.

[Áine Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a second-chance romance between Helen and her next-door neighbour, Rawdon. They were meant to elope a decade earlier, but it never came to be, thanks to miscommunication. Helen asks Rawdon to ruin her reputation, so she won't have to marry her old friend Rufus. The book starts out a bit slow, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. I would give it 4.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen’s father was determined to marry her off. She was determined to remain unwed by creating a scandal. Her first love, Radwen, offered her assistance with stipulations. He opened her eyes to how she had closed in on herself and brought back out her free spirit. Their secret rendezvous showing that their love was never gone, just buried under hurt.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lifelongreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helen faced an arranged marriage with a childhood friend, although she didn’t wish to marry. Her former suitor, Rawden agreed to a scandalous kiss —with conditions— to break the betrothal. Both learn that events, past and present, are not what they seem. Great book with characters who grow, change, and evolve throughout the book.

[Sylvia Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

If historical romance novels are high on your reading list, then I highly recommend Duke of Night by Emmi West. This book is well written and will tick all of the boxes and more if you are looking for a good story, romance, duplicity but no cliffhanger.

This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it and will also add her to my list of favourites.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a captivating historical second chance at love. The ups and downs, steong emotions, and so many plot twists kept me very engaged. The passionate, repressed feelings coming to fruition were a delight. I enjoyed how true love not only struck once but twice to bring us to a beautiful ending. I highly recommend reading!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHH! An exquisite story. So many thoughts, good and bad. Thinking that he did not love her and him doing the same. I enjoyed the story so very much. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Helen & Rawden's story! You know that it's a great story when it's the middle of the night & you're still up reading & fussing at the characters. It's a captivating story with steam, wit and a HEA.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helen and Rawden have a lot of history. A lot of hurt and anger exist, but love still hides underneath it all. The story is witty, emotionally charged and a joy to read!

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

complicated
Finding trust after having your heart broken is never easy, fortunately for Helen and Rawden the a means to an end strategy grants them a second chance.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it has an entertaining storyline and I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Davy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but an entire story that can be fixed by one conversation is a ridiculous lazy mess lol

[Yordana · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story!

Love Helen and Rawden and their love story!

Neighbors and friends turned enemies to at the end realizing all is a misunderstanding!